Activity at Sampson City.

I am curious about the GSF/SAL junction at Sampson City. I assume the crossing was at grade. Does anyone know how this diamond was protected...type of signal or semaphore? To compound matters, a map shows the Jacksonville, Gainesville and Gulf RR starting very close to this junction spot and then running SW to Gainesville. (I believe the JG&G would become a SAL branch in its later years.)

Answers

Greg -

I can't answer your question, but can add that the GS&F had a
significant investment in the Tampa & Jacksonville Ry (predecessor to
the Jacksonville, Gainesville & Gulf.) This included $150,000 in
bonds (about 1/3 the total issue) and an undetermined amount of the
stock. While this did not constitute control, I suspect that the
management of the T&J listened when the GS&F cleared its throat. The
T&G became the Jacksonville, Gainesville & Gulf in a reorganization
in 1926, was purchased by the Seaboard Air Line, and was abandoned in
1943.

Greg, the Sampson City diamond is still in place 2 years ago when I
was there. It is at grade, with GS&F track cut back about 3 feet
from the old SAL Wannee Brach, that ran from Stark, Florida to the
small town of Wannee, on the Suwanee River. I do not know how the
diamond was protected, and the old SAL (JG&G) line is no where to be
seen. On a 1930 SAL map it shows the JG&G leaving the Wannee Branch
after the SAL-GS&F diamond and heading south. The JG&G was formed by
SAL in 1927 and at it's height it was 56 miles long from Emathia
(located 10 miles west of Ocala, FL) to Sampson City. In 1927 after
the SAL took over they cut the line north of Gainesville to Sampson
City, and used it as a feeder line from Marion County to
Gainesville's SAL junction. The JG&G was abandoned in 1944. The old
Wanee Brach is now CSX's line from Stark to Newberry, FL and south on
the old ACL line to the Florida Power Corp. coal burning plant at Red
Level, FL. Allen L. Wiener, Ocala, FL